Sixteen (16) members of the Maeling Poultry Farmers’ Association under the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Central Luzon successfully participated in the first batch of the Social Preparation (SocPrep) Roll-out in Barangay Maeling, Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija last June 17, 2025.
The roll-out focused on shaping the farmers’ mindset and their perspective towards the Program which includes proper management of their association, project planning, and decision-making to ensure the successful implementation of livelihood interventions. The roll-out also assessed the level of participation of each farmer beneficiary in the Program.
The discussion began with a Focus Group Discussion (FGD), where the farmers were asked about the current state of their organization. This was followed by one-on-one interviews, giving them the opportunity to freely share their personal thoughts and sentiments about their fellow members.
During the discussion, the objectives of the Social Preparation component were explained, which include enhancing the beneficiaries’ awareness of the livelihood programs and training they will receive. The activity also aimed to gauge whether each member has a clear understanding of their responsibilities, whether as an officer or a regular member of the association.
The activity was led by Regional Social Preparation Lead of Central Luzon Rommelyn Quinto, together with other SAAD team.
According to Quinto, this step is crucial in strengthening the capabilities of both the associations and their members. “Ang social preparation ay pundasyon ng isang matagumpay na implementasyon ng programa. Sa pamamagitan nito, mas nakikilala namin ang mga benepisyaryo at kanilang mga pangangailangan.”
[Social preparation is the foundation of a successful program implementation. Through this, we get to know the beneficiaries better and understand their needs.]
The activity forms part of the broader initiative of the Program to ensure development in areas covered by the Program, aiming to uplift the livelihood of farmers in remote communities.
Following this, similar roll-outs are currently being conducted in five more barangays under the SAAD Program in Nampicuan until August, this year. ###
